Using blocks under automatic levelers

I have a gravel pad with 5/8 minus on the top. I did have to change it a bit from when I had the travel trailer tho. I use 1/2" plywood under all the wheels and nothing under the front jacks. I have 4 4"X6"X16" concrete blocks topped with 18"X24" 1/2" plywood under the rear jacks. When I first used the pad, I put 16" squares of 1/2" plywood under the front jacks and added gravel as they compressed it down and now they don't sink at all. I do drop the MH and use the jacks when parked at home as I do run the slides out and occasionally use it as my dog house.
On the road I use a set of the large orange plastic jack pads that I won at a rally and they work great and only weigh a couple of pounds per. I also carry 10 pieces of 2X10x16 for leveling under the wheels and have only used them once in 5 years, so under the rule of using once a year or gone, they should be gone, but the DW wants to try some boondocking and so they're staying.

murraymcleod wrote:
Looking at that last picture, I see you also have several of the yellow plastic "Lego" platforms. Is there any reason why those shouldn't be used under the jacks, as I have many of those as well?!

murraymcleod,
Well, I purchased those "leggo" blocks quite some time ago and, use them once in a great while. I cracked one, under one of the jacks just after I purchased them due to a tad bit of uneven surface that, that particular jack was on. So, after that, they're primarily used for other purposes. Mainly for my entrance step. I have two different step savers. One is tall and one is short. Which one I use depends on the height of the step, after all leveling operations are complete.

Sometimes, that step ends up fairly high so, I use as many of those "Leggo" blocks as needed to compliment my taller step saver. Other times, the step ends up not too far from the ground so, out comes the shorter step saver. But, anyway, that's what those are primarily used for in my coach.
Scott

I got some pressure treated 2 by 6 lumber and cut them to 12" lengths. I then put them together two thick in a herringbone type pattern. I attached them to each other with screws and put a length of rope on them so I could easily pull them out. The first time I put them under the jacks and used them, the jacks smashed them to little pieces! Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Looking at that last picture, I see you also have several of the yellow plastic "Lego" platforms. Is there any reason why those shouldn't be used under the jacks, as I have many of those as well?!

To answer your question.

Yes. The wider the footprint the better.

willald wrote:
Scott/"Fire Up",
You are absolutely right, and I've said it before also: People frequently get very lazy when they get a Motorhome with leveling jacks. Its as if they lose the ability to get out the blocks and put them in place like they did for years with other RVs, haha. :)

Anyway, I really like your leveling block idea there, with the 4x6 lumber sandwiched between 3/4" plywood pieces. Seems like that ought to make the RV sit real solid. As you and I have said and agreed on before, the less the jacks have to extend, the more solid it will feel.

I'm curious, though, those blocks look pretty new. How long have you had them, and how many times have you used them? Is this something you just built that haven't had the chance to try out yet, or have you used them a season or two with success?

I may just have to build me a set like those, and quit using the pieces of 2x10 lumber under the jacks..

Will,
Well Sir, the "newer" sandwiched ones, were made about 2 years ago and, I've used them several times. Putting a Urethane coating on them, right after building them and sanding them, helps to preserve not only the wood but, the good looks too. I really don't need anything "pretty" under that coach. They just turned out that way. Now, the beveled longer ones, were remnants from a construction job where some beams were being discarded.

I managed to commandeer some and, trimmed them up for my longer, rear dual drive-ons. Now, I've had them for about 4 years and, just this last camping trip, I noticed some little tiny pile of tailings underneath one as I pulled a pair out to use for leveling at my last campsite. YEOWWWWWWW, that's an indication of TERMITES!!!!

So, all four of those are being discarded and, I will cruise on down to my local lumber yard here in Havasu and, pickup some more wood. Since I like the sandwich idea so much, I think I'll build the same dimensions, only out of sandwiched material. That way, if they crack, it's no biggie, they're not going anywhere while in between those plywood top and bottoms.
Scott

Scott/"Fire Up",
You are absolutely right, and I've said it before also: People frequently get very lazy when they get a Motorhome with leveling jacks. Its as if they lose the ability to get out the blocks and put them in place like they did for years with other RVs, haha. :)

Anyway, I really like your leveling block idea there, with the 4x6 lumber sandwiched between 3/4" plywood pieces. Seems like that ought to make the RV sit real solid. As you and I have said and agreed on before, the less the jacks have to extend, the more solid it will feel.

I'm curious, though, those blocks look pretty new. How long have you had them, and how many times have you used them? Is this something you just built that haven't had the chance to try out yet, or have you used them a season or two with success?

I may just have to build me a set like those, and quit using the pieces of 2x10 lumber under the jacks..

ezgoin wrote:
Thanks Scott. Looks like you have all the bases covered!

Bill

Bill,
Well Sir, I try. I'm one of those that "feels" for the coach. While it may be made of steel and, has a heavy duty frame etc., it will still TWEAK, if it's tortured in leveling operations. So, trying to make a jack system compensate for, strictly in my opinion, LAZINESS, and or, un-willingness to apply some boards, lumber, blocks, whatever's needed to drive on, is just too hard on that frame, body, windshield, doors, etc.

It's just not that hard for me to do it this way. Many RVers have different thoughts about how they level their coach and, to even level them at all. The wife and I drive around many camping areas and can blatantly see that some coaches are so far off level that, you wonder what gives. No biggie, it's their coach and their fridge etc.
Scott

Thanks Scott. Looks like you have all the bases covered!

Bill

ezgoin wrote:
FIRE UP,

I'd like to see those drive up leveling blocks you mentioned. Can you post a pic of those too?

Bill

Bill,
Here ya go.




In those two photos, there are the four 4"x 12"x 20" blocks with beveled edges and, four, of the sandwiched 4"x6" (doubled in each sandwich so there's actually two 4"x6" sitting side by side, between each two pieces of 3/4" plywood. And, there's also two, sandwiched 2"x8"x15" between two 3/4" plywood to be used for the front tires and wheels if needed.

While they do take up a bit of space, because of the frequency of use, and importance of the need, I deem that space needed for that mini-lumber yard. Most wouldn't be caught dead carrying that much lumber. No biggie. Each RVer has to determine just what's important to carry and what's not. If our coach is anything less than close to level when I setup in a campsite, then out comes the lumber for pre-leveling. Then, the jacks to the fine tuning.

If I pull into a campsite and, it's pretty darn close, then I'll simply push the button on the HWH panel and, get out of the coach and watch the coach lower itself by dropping the bags and, then the jacks are deployed to level it. Done. But, the lumber is used on an as-needed basis.
Scott